Youth in Governance

Impact in Wisconsin

Civic Development: Youth become informed and thoughtful citizens.

Columbia

• Columbia County F.L.A.G. (Future Leaders Active in Government) provided 12 high school juniors with 8 sessions on local government, citizen roles, and leadership skills.
• Local government project engaged 4-H club members in attending and presenting at meetings, interviewing elected officials and providing information to 7 town boards, 2 villages, 2 cities and 28 of 31 county supervisors.

Crawford

• At the April county board meeting, a resolution was passed allowing 4-H Youth Development to actively seek the participation of youth in the governance of Crawford County. Six youth from the Prairiedu Chien School District have attended two county board meetings. Youth also attended the Land Conservation and Public Health committee meetings. In 2009, one school district with seven youth participated in youth in governance. At the end of the school year, the youth that observed the meetings will be asked for input on how to best incorporate youth into the county government.

Dane

• Seven 4-H youth who are members of the Public Adventures group organized the Amazing Government Race for 30 4-H members who learned experientially about the roles of county government offices.

Douglas

• 4-H Afterschool groups are leading a community campaign to raise awareness of environmental responsibility for Lake Superior water quality. 4th and 5th grade students meet weekly to learn about the lake and plan activities. They conducted water quality research, renovated rain gardens and conducted public outreach through a wide range of media, reaching over 650 youth and 120 adults in the community.

Eau Claire

• Facing a budget threat from the county board, one young alumnus and two youth members joined one adult leader, one alumnus parent and an elementary school principal presented county board members with information regarding contributions made by 4-Hers to the community and the unique benefits of 4-H to the individuals, families and the communities of the county.

Jackson

• A Youth Programs Summit, which brought together adults who work with youth in out of school programs included a session on engaging youth voice in planning civic engagement projects. On follow-up surveys, the 8 participants indicated that they wanted to get youth more involved in planning and the importance of helping youth learn why and how they are impacting the community through their actions.
• 65 Black River Falls students have been engaged in 4-H Public Adventures service-learning projects in 2007-8 and more teachers are planning to implement the curriculum in classrooms over the next year.

Lafayette

• The 2009 Lafayette County Youth Government Day included youth identification of county needs for the first time. The program was delivered to 124 youth and six teachers, as well as several county employees, officials and war veterans. During group breakout sessions, small groups of youth identified county issue statements, with advisor facilitators. These small groups then prepared a presentation to share with the other youth in attendance. The top presentation, selected by the large group, will present in 2010 to the Lafayette County Board of Supervisors.

Lincoln

• As a result of the involvement of 17 adults and nine youth and adults on the "After the Bell" Steering Committee, a strong after school program for middle school youth was implemented. Lincoln County 4-H Ambassadors worked with youth in afterschool program to plan program improvements and learn citizenship skills.

Sheboygan

• The Sheboygan County 4-H Youth Development Educator facilitated a session on parliamentary procedure for 53 students at Sheboygan County Student Government Day. The 4-H Youth Development Educator also taught a Youth Adult Partnership Lesson during the lunch program. 83% of the participants indicated that they agreed or strongly agreed with the statement that they understood Parliamentary Proceeded better because of this session. 14 students indicated interest in serving on local governing boards.

Oneida

• 4-H is working with a group of high school students who just finished doing a legislative forum for an assembly at the high school and a community one to encourage young people and community members to get out and vote.  They also organized a community forum on school issues. Election officials reported 18-year-olds participating in spring county elections for the first time in memory.

Washburn

• Youth Government Day is organized by UW-Extension and engages students from all four school districts in learning about county government through tours, an overview of the budget and interactive scenarios of issues faced by county residents.

Waupaca

• Waupaca Learning Center 5th grade students, teachers, and community members finished their first year of "Teaming Together to Stop Violence" in which they identified non-violent video games, wrote poems and displayed art work and organized a community rally for peace.
• Waupaca County Extension helped four schools receive a service-learning grant through which students and teachers identified projects to address issues including the environment, teen pregnancy, underage drinking, gas prices, and safe places for young people.

Winnebago

• 16 4-H youth leaders and 3 4-H alumni completed the Learning about Local Government project interviewing 15 out of 38 Winnebago County Board Supervisors. Participants created a display board about their supervisor, and wrote articles to be included in upcoming 4-H newsletters. Participants completing a follow-up survey self-reported an increase in having a voice in local government and having the skills to be an active citizen.